User:Writerose/Women's Brigade (Broken Hill)

Introduction
The Women's Brigade was a labour protest organisation for women formed during the first of several strikes to occur in the mining town of Broken Hill, NSW, Australia between 1889-1920.

The notice for the first meeting read: "A number of Broken Hill Women are very anxious to do something towards supporting the men now out on strike and a meeting for women only will be held at the Masonic Hotel tonight, at 7:30. The president will be the chair. Mr T.C. Tait, the proprieter of the Masonic Hotel, has kindly given the use of his new hall, erected at the site of the hotel, for the use of the women's brigade. All matrons and maids who are in sympathy with the union are requested to attend."

Activism
1889

Broken Hill's first mining strike occurred in 1889 as a result of the trade union ultimatum that members not be made to work with non-unionised workers. The strike lasted a week and during this time the Womens' Brigade was formed.

As a result of unionised miners not wanting to work with non-union labour, a meeting was held between the about 2500 miners and directors of Broken Hill Proprietary on November 14, 1889. By the time of the arrival of BHP directors from Melbourne on November 13, the Women's Brigade had set up as 'sentinels' in order to catch any non-union labour who were 'tarred and whitewashed' as they attempted to cross the picket line the following day.

"The brigade now numbers 400 members, many of whom took part in the famous sweeping affair at the Moonta and Wallaroo mines 15 years ago. Two hundred women spent the night in the mines and two of them have been locked up for trespassing."

1892

The Women's Brigade was very active in using direct action methods against the imported contract labour during the 1892 Broken Hill miners' strike.

1919-1920

"The womenfolk that evening at least got some of their own back, for wherever a 'cop' was observed during the march, he either received a 'back-hander' from a woman on passing or was spat upon. This happened not once, but hundres of times during that memorable tramp through the city's streets. And, under the circumstances, show to me the workingman that did not, and does not, applaud such acts, and I will show you a creature who lives but to creep and to cringe, and knowls but little of the history of his class, or the deamnable actions of its historic enemies."